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RNZ News
11 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
Matariki celebrations in Ruapehu make for a new year's day to remember
Ngāti Rangi spokesperson Che Wilson. Photo: Supplied / Richie Mills Ngāti Rangi members are reflecting on the honour of hosting this year's Matariki national holiday ceremony. The ceremonies wrapped up on Friday at Tirorangi Marae at the base of Ruapehu. Ngāti Rangi spokesperson Che Wilson said it was huge honour for Ngāti Rangi to host the celebrations in Ohakune, the "capital of carrots". "It's a huge honour to be able to be the first marae to host the Matariki national holiday ceremony." Many iwi members worked for weeks preparing for the ceremony, from reciting karakia to working in the kitchen. Jamie Turama Tuahuriri Downes was working in the wharekai kitchen, playing his part in what he called the "boar's nest". It had been a huge build-up, he said, including lots of early mornings going hunting. "Lamb or mutton, beef and venison is the main sort of meat that fills [the] fridges and freezers of our people. The ability to go and hunt and gather and bring it all into a place that we call the 'boar's nest', that's a place where a lot of it gets processed." Photo: Supplied / Richie Mills Downes called it "the classroom that every rangatahi needs to be in". "It has become a place that not only feeds this kaupapa in the lead-up to the many people that will turn up before the actual kaupapa, but also for tangihanga, for any kaupapa." Downes said it was an honour to serve in a place where his tūpuna and all of his aunties and uncles had toiled for many years. "Just a massive honour and privilege to be here alongside whānau doing what we do, a lot of steering well away from the cameras because for them this is just what we do on the regular." Photo: Supplied / Richie Mills Tirorangi Marae kaumātua Matiu Wilson was raised near the marae, but has spent most of his life away from the region. "I always wanted to eventually come home to be the next guardian of the homestead, but also to get back involved with Tirorangi." Wilson returned to the marae about five years ago and was now a marae trustee. He said he loved being a part of the paepae, and was enjoying his time getting back in touch with Tirorangi. He said he was proud to see people from all across the country visit his marae. "Tumeke, awesome, beautiful and I'm so proud that I've come home and I've realised what I've missed since I've been away from home for so many years." Tererenga Nikora. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Tererenga Nikora was one of the manuhiri visiting from Waikato. Unfortunately she missed out on seeing the stars because she was chasing her tamaiti around, she said. But she said Ngāti Rangi had shown amazing manaakitanga, and the locals had been friendly and helpful. "It is stunning. It was amazing. I love seeing Māori stuff like this, especially in te ao Māori and that it's getting bigger, it's going worldwide, so it is so cool to see." Photo: Supplied / Richie Mills Ohakune local Jade said she got a clear view of Puanga on Friday morning. "After the rain yesterday it was just so wonderful to wake up this morning and the clouds had cleared and we could actually see." She said it was "super special" that so many people were visiting her community to share in the kaupapa. Photo: Supplied / Richie Mills Photo: Supplied / Richie Mills Linley (left) and Jade (right). Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Taupō resident Linley said the karakia and karanga from Ngāti Rangi was beautiful. "It's such a privilege to have this opportunity to share and to really demonstrate that unity and that shared understanding." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
From kōrero to kāinga: Ngāti Rangi celebrates housing milestone
Members of Ngāti Rangi at the site of a new housing development in Ohakune. Photo: Supplied/Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust Central North Island iwi Ngāti Rangi has hit a milestone for their housing development in Ohakune - which they hope will help alleviate a shortage of affordable housing in the region. On Monday Te Kūmete o Paerangi - the commercial board of Ngāti Rangi - joined with TW Group and Egmont Dixon - to turn the sod for the construction of ten new houses. The Ohakune Affordable Housing Programme is funded with the support of Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga - Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Te Kūmete o Paerangi Limited Partnership. The sod turning for the construction of ten new houses to be built in Ohakune. Photo: Supplied/Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust Te Kūmete chairperson Kemp Dryden said the houses will be for the descendants of Ngāti Rangi living in the region and those wanting to return home. The idea for this project goes back even before the signing of Ngāti Rangi's Deed of Settlement in 2018 and the iwi are very happy to finally see it up and running, he said. "E roa ake ngā kōrero, ko tēnei te wā e timata ai te whakatinanatia i ngā kōrero." "We've been talking for a long time, now is the time to make those words into reality." Dryden said the new homes would be affordable rentals aimed at local whānau. Income disparity and housing shortages have meant many whānau have struggled to obtain affordable housing in the region, he said. Housing has been a longstanding issue in Ohakune - sub-standard housing and erratic or transitional housing have prevented whānau from being able to enjoy the quality of life a good home brings with it, he said. "He iti the nama e wātea ana mō tō tātau whānau, ko tērā te raru. Ko ō tātau whānau e toru ngā reanga e noho ana i te kāinga." "The problem is that there are very few houses available to our community. Some families have three generations living in the same house." Dryden said of about 1200 homes in Ohakune, about 800 are Airbnbs or holiday homes. The iwi, local council, central government and the community all need to work together to solve this problem, he said. Members of Ngāti Rangi at the site of a new housing project in Ohakune. Photo: Supplied/Ngā Waihua o Paerangi Trust The housing development is located around Ohakune, particularly in the Korokio subdivision, named after the stream that runs through the area. "Ko tēnei kaupapa he kainga hou, Rau Korokio ko te puāwaitanga o ēnā moemoeā me ngā whainga o Ngāti Rangi," Dryden said. "This project is about building new homes, and Rau Korokio is the blossoming of the dreams and goals of Ngāti Rangi." The subdivision has a small wetland, which is of great importance to Ngāti Rangi. Providing a unique habitat for native plants, birds and fish, as well as building and weaving materials such as raupo and harakeke, medicines and dyes used for seasoning timber and restoring precious artefacts. Dryden said the main goal is that this project can benefit the whānau of Ngāti Rangi who are looking for a home. English translations provided in this article are not direct quotes. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
